Party's novel approach to funding elections

An innovative approach to involve the wider community in funding elections has been started by Plaid Cymru in Clwyd South.

 

The party has set up a crowd-funding site, attracting support from ordinary people who would not otherwise be engaged in party politics.

 

Plaid Cymru candidate for the constituency, Mabon ap Gwynfor, set up the crowd funding campaign a few days ago and has already attracted pledges of more than £800.

 

He says most of the money pledged so far has come from people outside of party politics.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, a health campaigner from Corwen, said: “We don’t have multi-millionaires with vested interests or trade unions bankrolling our campaigns.

 

"We depend entirely on small donations by local members and supporters to take our message out to the wider public. Therefore online crowd funding is essential for a community-based party like Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales.

 

"This is an online equivalent of our other community fundraisers such as raffles, social evenings and other events."

 

He added: “Plaid Cymru has seen a growing number of people join us locally in recent months because of our campaigning – whether for maintaining local services, or for an alternative to austerity, which hits the poorest and most vulnerable.

 

"So far, this online crowdfunding initiative has resulted in dozens of people who are not affiliated to the party donating their money to our campaigns because they believe we can make a difference.

 

"What is interesting is that it has also resulted in people donating by cheque or cash as well, and maybe more importantly with people offering to help during the campaign."

* The crowd funding page can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/elect-ethol-mabon-ap-gwynfor/.